Don’t Let Stroke Be The First Warning

By Erin Archer

As Atrial Fibrillation Week (September 18-24) kicks off across the nation, Australians are being asked to check whether they have an irregular heartbeat, which can dramatically increase the risk of stroke.

According to hearts4heart, atrial fibrillation is the cause for 6,000 strokes every year and one in four of these occur in people who are undiagnosed and therefore unable to take preventative measures.

While AF can be detected by a simple pulse test to check heart rate, as many as 30 percent of the 460,000 Australians with the condition, remain undiagnosed.

If left untreated it can cause blood to pool in a chamber of the heart and form a clot which can travel to the brain, causing a stroke.

Here is CEO of hearts4heart Tanya Hall, speaking about what can be done to alleviate the condition.

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As part of AF Awareness Week, hearts4heart is setting up free, mobile heart testing stations in hospitals and pharmacies across the country, which it believes could detect thousands of cases of AF.

Ms Hall is calling on all Australians, particularity those aged over the age of 65, to make an appointment with their doctor to get tested or visit a local testing station, however she also stresses that stroke can happen to anyone, no matter what their age.

“We highly recommend particularly for anyone over the age of 65, that they go and be screened, but certainly anyone suffering symptoms of any age, should ask for a heart check by their GP,” Ms Hall said.

When self detecting stroke, Ms Hall says some people are symptomatic and can have palpitations, shortness of breath, dizziness or chest pain, but not everyone suffers from symptoms which is why it’s important to visit a GP to get your heart checked.

Not only are heart attacks and strokes devastating for individuals and families, hearts4heart reported the cost on the economy is also damaging, at $1.63 billion a year it’s huge problem and one that shouldn’t be ignored.